Hargreaves-led Santa Margarita advances

Santa Margarita's Kylie Hargreaves was up to her old tricks Thursday night, which is to say the defending Division I-AA player of the year put her team on her back and carried it to victory.

The outside hitter registered 28 kills to lift the Eagles in a five-game thriller over Redondo Union, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 15-13, in CIF-SS Division I-AA girls volleyball at Santa Margarita High.

The Eagles (23-9) visit No. 4 Long Beach Wilson in Saturday's quarterfinal match. Redondo ended its season 30-9.

"I told Kylie before the match we needed a big game from her," Santa Margarita coach Cristy Chapman-Uhrig said.

"She's been playing volleyball for years. She gets up for this. This might have been her last match at home."

The Wake Forest-bound senior ended the match with her biggest kill of the night.

With the Eagles leading, 14-13, in the decisive game, the teams each had possession three times before Kendall Cygan's set found Hargreaves on the left side.

She leaped and let a crushing rip fly, her shot drilling a Redondo opponent squarely in the chest before falling to the ground. Hargreaves jumped up and down in celebration as her team gathered around her in victory.

"The only thing I was thinking of was not losing," she said.

"Redondo is a great team. They play unbelievable defense. They have great hitters up front. They are well-balanced."

It was the second time this season the Eagles defeated the Sea Hawks in five games.

The teams also went the distance at the Torrey Pines Challenge last month. Santa Margarita improved to 4-0 in five-game matches.

It was a difficult second-round draw for both teams. Redondo entered the match ranked fifth in the division and Santa Margarita No. 7.

"We knew it was going to be a battle," Chapman-Uhrig said.

"We play a tough preseason schedule. The whole point is to prepare for matches like this."

In other Division I-AA girls volleyball:

Mater Dei 3, Murrieta Valley 2: Playing in the old gym at Mater Dei, Ashley Cox had 15 kills as the Monarchs stunned Murrieta Valley, 25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9, to advance to the quarterfinals.

No. 1 Newport Harbor 3, West Torrance 0: Kirby Burnham posted 16 kills to lead the Sailors past the Warriors, 25-23, 25-20, 25-15.

No. 2 Los Alamitos 3, Royal of Simi Valley 1: Jane Croson had 14 kills and Halli Amaro had 10 blocks as the Griffins won, 25-12, 23-25, 25-19, 25-9.

In Division I-A:

El Toro 3, Valencia of Valencia 2: Jenna Anderson poured in 50 assists and Kacie Benson added 23 kills as the Chargers outlasted the Vikings, 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 11-25, 15-7.